Time for another Movie Night, gang! I've decided, in between bouts of fever and coughing, that we really should plow ahead as quickly as possible, and watch as many episodes of these series as we can. We have Future Boy Conan, Anne of Green Gables, 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother already. I've been trying to create an uploadable copy of Lupin III (one with English subtitles), and I'm seriously thinking of adding an episode or two of Heidi. Whew!

Fortunately, the second episode of Anne is already available on YouTube. Let's sit back and watch. If you've forgotten at all, be sure to scan back to the first episode, which was also posted here. Episode 2 continues with Anne Shirley and Matthew Cuthbert on the cart ride home. They are in for a showdown with the dominant Marilla, who, as we all know, is expecting a young boy instead of a girl. Their first fateful meeting is a magnificent scene, full of pathos and humor.

I can't say enough about Eiko Yamada, the actress who voiced Anne in Takahata's 1979 production. She plays the character throughout the entire series, always convincingly, and always full of spirit. Ms. Yamada's portrayal of Anne Shirley is, I believe, the best performance of Maude Montgomery's character ever put to film. This is a testament, naturally, to Yoshifumi Kondo, Hayao Miyazaki (who again served on layout for the first 13 episodes), the many brilliant animators, and of course Takahata. But it's Yamada herself who truly brings the character alive. Her line readings are impeccable, always weaving the right path from comedy to tragedy. Anne Shirley is a tough character to play without resorting to a motor-mouth tempo, or Harpo Marx clowning. Eiko Yamada nails it better than anyone else.

Enjoy episode 2. Don't forget to download the fansub, so you can watch on a larger screen.